Thank you for helping us meet the Bezos Match
WE DID IT! YOU DID IT! We made the Bezos Challenge Match—the contents in CTB’s PO Box this morning got us to $523,238.67. WE DID IT!
Why do we do it? Take a look at this photo for the answer.
You’ll see Brandon Thomas, M.Ed. and Khundmeer Syed, Chicagoans and members of Arrupe’s Class of 2017, now colleagues together on the west coast at the University of San Francisco.
After Brandon completed his associate degree at Arrupe, he continued at Loyola University Chicago, where he eventually attained a master’s degree in higher education student affairs. Brandon worked in student services at Marymount University in northern Virginia, and is now serving at USF, where he works in student housing. Also at USF is Brandon's Arrupe classmate, Khundmeer Syed. Khundmeer attended Georgetown University post-Arrupe, and after completing his computer science degree there, he went on for a master’s in educational technology at USF. Khundmeer created his own firm, Moon Technology, and also serves as a resident minister at USF. Khundmeer collaborates with our friends at The Dream.US, which provides scholarships for undocumented students, and he also collaborates with me as a member of Come to Believe’s board of trustees. Brandon serves on Arrupe College’s alumni board.
Khundmeer and Brandon were members of Arrupe’s inaugural class. The Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas graduated their inaugural class in 2019. Soon Butler University and the College of Mt. St. Vincent will be enrolling their inaugural classes.
Jackie and Mike Bezos want to see more inaugural classes at more colleges based on Come to Believe’s model. So do you. Many thanks to the CTB community for your generosity and for believing in students like Brandon and Khundmeer, once Arrupe students and now professionals in education and technology, now leaders.
On behalf of CTB, and on behalf of future inaugural classes, thank you to the Bezoses and to all in our community who contributed to what has become a million dollar match. We did it!
Announcing the Bezos Match
Dear Friends of Come to Believe,
Thank you for the many emails and messages of congratulations to CTB last week when we announced that Butler University and the College of Mt. St. Vincent were replicating our two-year college model.
One of those emails came from Mike Bezos. “This is great news, Father,” Mike wrote.
Mike has more great news for CTB.
Mike and his wife Jackie, like many of you, have been watching CTB grow and waiting for new colleges to be announced. With Butler and the College of Mt. St. Vincent’s announcements, the Bezoses wish to invest in CTB.
Mike and Jackie Bezos are willing to invest $500,000 in CTB—if the CTB community can match.
What an investment! With funds from Mike and Jackie Bezos and you, we can:
Provide seed funding for another university that we believe will successfully replicate our model.
Continue to provide support and resources to Butler and Mt. St. Vincent as they prepare to enroll their inaugural classes.
Support other universities interested in exploring our model as they consider replication on their campuses.
Three years ago, when we launched CTB, Mike Bezos wrote the following to me: “There is obviously a hunger out there for your idea of colleges available to all.” Mike nailed it. That hunger is evident in Indianapolis and the Bronx. It is evident in our current design grant cohort of institutions exploring the CTB model. And it is evident in each of you.
Mike concluded that message to me with a call to action: “Let’s get those colleges built.” With CTB’s support, Butler and Mt. St. Vincent are building new colleges. But there are more colleges to be built. To help us meet Mike and Jackie’s $500,000 match, you can:
Mail a check to Come to Believe: P.O. Box 786 New York, NY 10150
Click here to give online
Email info@ctbnetwork.org for wire/ACH guidelines
Mike and Jackie have graciously given us until the end of 2023 to meet their challenge. However, I am meeting with a colleague of theirs on November 29th. I’d love to deliver the good news on that date: “We’ve met the match.”
Thank you for your excitement about Come to Believe. Thank you for your wish for more CTB colleges for more students who are too often left out of the higher ed landscape. Thank you for joining Mike and Jackie Bezos by investing in CTB so that together, we can raise $1,000,000 to build more colleges.
God's blessings,
Steve Katsouros, SJ
President, Come to Believe Foundation
New York, NY 10150
COME TO BELIEVE NETWORK EXPANDS IMPACT WITH LAUNCH OF NEW TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
Butler University and the College of Mount Saint Vincent Have Adopted Come to Believe Network’s Proven Model to Empower Underserved Students through an Innovative Educational Model
NEW YORK—The Come to Believe Network (CTB), a nonprofit that assists higher education institutions in developing and launching two-year college programs that provide pathways for underserved students to receive four-year degrees, today announced Butler University and College of Mount Saint Vincent (CMSV) will establish new two-year colleges on their campuses, as Come to Believe continues to replicate its proven model nationally. The new colleges at Butler and CMSV will be accessible to students without the typical credentials required to attend selective universities but who can succeed with the support CTB’s model provides.
Come to Believe’s model, developed at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago and first replicated at Dougherty Family College (DFC) of the University of St. Thomas, is a two-year, associate degree-granting program embedded within a four-year college or university. The model is designed to provide students with rigorous academics and holistic supports without the burden of high tuition costs or student loans. Students benefit from small classes, dedicated faculty advisors, mental health services and other wrap-around services. Graduates earn associate degrees and two years of transferable credits to continue into one of Butler or CMSV’s bachelor’s degree programs or at another four-year university.
The CTB model has achieved outcomes that far surpass most two-year colleges. At Arrupe and DFC, students graduate at more than four times the national average and 90% of students graduate without any debt. In addition, more than 80 percent of graduates from CTB model colleges transfer to four-year schools, and 75 percent graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Nationally, only 14 percent of students who begin at two-year programs complete a bachelor’s degree within six years.
“CTB is excited to announce that our network is growing, “ said Fr. Steve Katsouros, SJ, President of Come to Believe. “Butler and Mt. St. Vincent are providing outstanding opportunities for wonderful students in their communities who might be otherwise left out of the higher ed landscape. It’s very satisfying to think of young people now in high school in Indianapolis and the Bronx who will soon enroll at CTB-model colleges at Butler and Mt. St. Vincent. We know the experiences of the students, faculty, staff, and leadership at Butler and Mt. St. Vincent will influence our work at CTB as we continue to accompany other universities exploring our model for replication on their campuses.”
The launch of these colleges addresses an urgent need for postsecondary innovation in both Indiana and New York. In 2021, only 53 percent of Indiana’s high school graduates enrolled in college, a full 10 percentage points below the national average. In 2020, only 40 percent of Indiana students with low socioeconomic status (SES) enrolled in college, compared to 61 percent of students with higher SES. In 2022, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education reported that students from low-income families averaged a 27 percent on-time graduation rate, compared to a 45 percent rate for total students. In New York City, 38 percent of the 2019 public high school graduating class did not continue or persist in college for 6 months after enrolling. Furthermore, a recent report found that when it comes to bachelor’s degree attainment, Hispanic (20%) and Black (27%) New Yorkers are underrepresented when compared to Asian (45%) and white (64%) New Yorkers.
“Butler is committed to making an exceptional educational experience available to students from all backgrounds,” Butler University President James Danko said. “We’re proud to work with CTB to bring their successful model to campus and create new educational opportunities for the Indianapolis community here at Butler.”
CMSV’s two-year college is named "Seton College” after the Sisters of Charity’s founder, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Sisters sponsor the College of Mount Saint Vincent.
“For over 175 years, Mount Saint Vincent has been educating students rooted in the tenets of goodness, discipline, and knowledge,” said Susan R. Burns, President of Mount Saint Vincent. “Our dear Sisters are trailblazers. They are heroines and they are innovators. It took a lot of courage for the Mount to take this leap and form a two-year school on campus. But, after watching what the Sisters have done for generations of young people seeking the benefits of education—women, the sick, the marginalized—we knew this was something we had to do to continue to ensure every single student seeking access to higher education can receive it.”
CTB selected Butler and CMSV for its inaugural Design Grant cohort based on both institutions’ commitment to access, impressive institutional capacity, strong enrollment trends, and large populations of low-income prospective students in their communities who could benefit from the program. As part of the design grant process, CTB provided Butler and CMSV with inside access to existing CTB model colleges, planning resources and customized advisory services.
Come to Believe is also providing both institutions with $500,000 in seed funding, made possible by generous gifts to CTB from Schreiber Philanthropy and the Carson Family Charitable Trust. CTB will continue to support both institutions as they prepare for the opening in Fall 2024 (CMSV) and Fall 2025 (Butler).
"The CTB Board is thrilled to see the collaborations with Butler and CMSV leading to new two-year colleges on their campuses and more opportunities for more students,” said Amy Jo Dowd, Board Chair, Come to Believe Network. “CTB is committed to building access and equity through our innovative model, and we hope to see more institutions join the network and ensure that all students are supported to thrive in higher education and complete their degrees.”
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About Come to Believe Network
The Come to Believe Foundation (CTB) assists higher education institutions in developing and launching a two-year college model that provides a pathway for underserved students to receive four-year degrees. First developed at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, the CTB model provides students with small classes, dedicated faculty advisors, mental health services, generous financial aid and other supports. The results are exemplary, with graduation rates four to six times the national average, and over 80% of graduates transferring to four-year schools. CTB operates as an accelerator within the higher education ecosystem: identifying, supporting and investing in institutions that can successfully replicate CTB’s model on their campuses.
A statement from CTB President/CEO Steve Katsouros, SJ, on recent Supreme Court rulings
The work of Come to Believe is based on the idea that representation in higher education matters, and that students who are underrepresented at selective universities are worth investing in. At Arrupe College at Loyola University Chicago and Dougherty Family College (DFC) at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, over 90% of students are people of color and over 90% graduate with no debt. The Supreme Court decisions striking down affirmative action and stopping student loan forgiveness only reinforce our steadfast commitment to creating more colleges like Arrupe and DFC where students of color can build community, complete degrees without incurring debt, and work toward a prosperous future.
Announcing CTB’s 2023-24 Design Grant Cohort
Dear Friends of Come to Believe (CTB),
We are happy to announce this year’s recipients of CTB’s design grants:
Canisius University, Buffalo, NY
Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IN
University of Portland, OR
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
University of San Diego, CA
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
In addition, you may remember Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles expressed interest in our two-year college model but needed a university with whom to partner. Mt. St. Mary’s University, also in Los Angeles, has agreed to explore a partnership with Homeboy Industries, and they are also recipients of a CTB design grant.
Congratulations to CTB’s 2023-2024 design grant cohort!
What does it mean to receive a CTB design grant? A design grant provides funding for a university—or a community-based organization like Homeboy partnering with a higher ed institution—to explore our two-year college model in depth and begin to consider whether it has the bandwidth to successfully replicate and sustain the model on its campus. As the year progresses, CTB customizes our services for participating institutions as they segue from exploring to planning a two-year college on their campuses, pending their board’s approval.
I am over the moon about our new cohort. As June becomes July, I’m thinking of many young people around the country who have just graduated from their high schools with few if any affordable postsecondary opportunities that will provide them with the support needed to complete a college degree while incurring little to no debt. I’m encouraged to think about the opportunities ahead for more students if members of next year’s design grant cohort move from exploring to planning to opening CTB-model colleges on their campuses.
I’m grateful for CTB donors’ generous support. Our benefactors’ financial contributions allow CTB to provide grants to university leaders and to support them as they discern and decide if they can replicate a CTB college on their campus.
Our donors also support CTB as we continue working with higher ed institutions once their boards have approved going forward with our model. Later in the summer, we will have very exciting news to share on this front—stay tuned! In the meantime, thank you for your interest in Come to Believe, as we address a big problem: Not enough first-generation, Pell eligible or undocumented students graduate from college. Our big solution? A better normal in high ed for these students based on academic rigor and support, community and belonging, and high student retention and graduation rates.
God’s blessings,
Steve Katsouros, SJ
President/CEO
Come to Believe Foundation
New York, NY
Support CTB
The Importance of Transfer Student Supports
The current state of the education system in the United States is in a critical condition. “Although nearly half of all undergraduate students start at a community college, the likelihood of this group successfully transitioning from community college to a 4-year institution is low,” (Dr. Higdon, 2022). At CTB, we understand that it is of the utmost importance to provide our students with all the support they need in order to successfully transition into a 4-year institution once they complete their 2-year degree with us.
The CTB model provides wrap-around supports for all students. In regards to the transfer process, at Arrupe College and the Dougherty Family College (DFC), there are staff members whose roles focus on supporting students with nuances of this process. Katia M. Colón-LaCroix, DFC’s College Persistence Counselor, shared with us:
“Transferring to new campuses can be challenging, especially for students who are balancing many obligations and responsibilities. For many students this transition can be eased through finding communities that support and uplift them, whether it be through organizations and activities that affirm their identities, support their passions and hobbies, or just offer students a chance to connect with one another. The best way to support this type of involvement is by engaging in authentic and individualized relationships that honor our students and allow us to understand their needs and interests in meaningful ways, building bridges for students to access opportunities on campus and in the community, and connecting them with other students and community members who can welcome and support them as they transition.”
In this article, we highlight the experience of Arrupe College 2021 graduate and now Loyola University Chicago (LUC) 2023 graduate, Angel Rubi Navarijo. Angel shared with us about his experience throughout the transfer process while at Arrupe and now as an LUC student. His insights serve as acknowledgement of the work that has been done from the beginning to support him and his peers, but also shed light onto the work that is yet to be done to support all students more effectively.
Angel shared with us that one of the most important supports he received from these institutions was “the career services aspect,” as he recognizes the competitive nature of today’s professional world. He further explained that LUC “offered [him] that support even after coming out from Arrupe.”
While both Arrupe and LUC have been incredibly supportive, it is a fact that not everything is perfect. “The difficulties transfer students experience during their transition to 4-year institutions include: less financial aid (Melguizo et al., 2011), less engagement (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2019), and transfer and culture shock from changes in cultures and academics (Ishitani, 2008).” (Lazarowicz, and McGill, 2022) Angel tells us that “there is a lot of room for improvement [...] the community needs to be a lot more embedded within itself, [meaning that there needs to be a clear community for transfer students to rely on… as well as] support for undocumented students who may not have social security numbers.”
At CTB, we understand that there is yet a lot of work to be done in order to meet the needs of every single student out there. However, our model has been able to provide supports that work, and create a blueprint for new CTB model institutions-and any other higher education institution–to follow.
Angel concluded with providing powerful advice for faculty and staff alike in terms of how to best support students who have to face all these nuances regarding the transfer process:
“I truly think the classroom is the best place to do any sort of outreach for students. Just from my experience at Loyola, I know engagement and outreach has been a challenge for universities and colleges across the country, not just Loyola. So, [faculty and staff] really [need] to use your classrooms as a method of outreach and understanding, and mentorship for students. That will really help. And also, transfer [students] are still students even though they are transfers [...] so offer that support, and apply their voices in class, be advocates and be honest about the support they may need.”
CTB Visits DFC
By Asya Meadows and Carlos Martinez
The Come To Believe (CTB) Network team had the amazing opportunity of visiting the Dougherty Family College (DFC) at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the very first time this month. “This two-year college within the University of St. Thomas opened in the fall of 2017 at the downtown Minneapolis campus.” (University of St. Thomas, 2023) Today, DFC serves a diverse student body and offers the CTB model wrap-around supports as a means to support not only access to higher education but success within higher education.
In this article, we touch on some of the highlights of this incredible experience. It is undeniable to say that DFC truly did feel at home, as Arrupe graduates. This is because of the welcoming nature of not only the space but of every single person we met during our visit. It is just a special place that brings a community of people working together for the common good. Visiting DFC was incredibly important for us at CTB because having that first-hand, in-person experience and understanding of the inner workings of the institution is invaluable. As a team, we wanted to meet and learn from the leadership team at DFC, along with meeting some of the students, shadowing a class, and seeing the campus and its various spaces. All to have a better sense of how the community works, and what each of these community members has experienced.
From the perspective of two Arrupe College graduates, it was interesting to see the many similarities between DFC and Arrupe College students on the core principles of the CTB model. These principles are crucial when replicating the model at different universities across the U.S.
At DFC we met with two students from the DFC program. Kayla Martin is a second-year student, born and raised in Minnesota. She heard about DFC through her local church, and what resonated with her were the program's values of holistic support and low cost. We also met with Alejandra Soria, a second-year first-generation student, who heard about the DFC program during a program she was a part of in high school that allowed her to learn about the different post-secondary options.
Carlos and I related to both of their experiences. Coming from a single-parent household and with my mother still paying off my catholic high school education, college felt like a stressor to me. With barriers to college, it felt like higher education was out of reach. Thankfully, like Kayla, I had the chance to hear about Arrupe and its holistic support and low cost. Kayla shared with us that “as soon as I heard about the benefits of like the laptop, the bus pass, the meal plan, the free texts books … that’s what got me into it. Then I heard about the tuition and the support, and once I found out about the values I was like ‘ok, sold, this is where I need to be.’”
Additionally, I connected with how these students felt seen by their faculty as they had to navigate through hardships, in a similar way that I had to. In particular, Alejandra mentioned in our conversation that being a first-generation student was a lot on her shoulders while being the breadwinner and caretaker for her family. All these pressures of her personal life added on. However, while on the DFC campus, she felt unwavering support from the DFC community. I also empathized with students' challenges feeling the same sense of belonging on the larger campus when compared to the tight-knit community within the two-year college.
For me, Carlos, what stood out the most was the way in which I was able to see myself in the two students we got to meet, Alejandra and Kayla. These two sophomores got to share with us their entire experience at DFC and how it has impacted them in a positive way. For them, higher education was not an option at one point due to its inaccessibility for those who unfortunately have extra responsibilities and/or hardships to endure. At CTB we understand that “access to postsecondary education across the country is vital, as 50 percent of students choose to study close to home, and disparities in opportunities can lead to inequality.” (Johnson, 2019) For both Alejandra and Kayla, staying close to home was not only a want but a need.
Moreover, something that impacted me in a positive way was seeing how committed all the faculty and staff members at DFC are to their students and seeing them succeed. It is a gratifying feeling filled with hope for the future of higher education. Higher education “has also been shown to improve an individual's quality of life.” (United Nations, 2023) I am ecstatic to see these young people flourish after their time at DFC is up just the way I have been able to.
Reflecting on our experience showed us the facts of the matter: The CTB model core principles have been tested and proven to be the key to consistent quality higher education
Sense of belonging and community.
Wrap around services: faculty, advisors, peer mentors, career centers, internships, orientation leaders, and academic tutors.
Low tuition cost.
Access to resources such as free books, free laptops, free public transportation, breakfast, and lunch.
A visible campus and welcoming environment.
As we enter the final stages with the 2022 Design Grant Program participants, the stories of these students, both at DFC and Arrupe, serve as a testament to the effectiveness of this program and its positive impact. This investment will yield an incredibly strong ROI for any university, but aside from that it will offer support and resources to students who at one time or another could not see themselves in higher education.
A conversation on the importance of achievement
By Carlos Martinez
A 2022 report by McKinsey & Company stated that women leaders are just as ambitious as men, yet women still face more challenges that will make it harder for them to advance. “They’re more likely to experience belittling microaggressions, such as having their judgment questioned or being mistaken for someone more junior,” (McKinsey & Company) However, at Come to Believe we understand that women are highly capable leaders. A great example of this is our Board Member, Carmen Romero, who shared with us her thoughts on empowerment:
Empowerment looks like trusting colleagues, respecting them and allowing them to fail, if needed. To support empowerment, I try to create a collaborative culture where people share authentic and different perspectives to arrive at solutions as a team.
Come to Believe is proud to continue not only supporting but also showcasing the achievements of women who are part of the CTB community. This month, CTB had a two-part conversation on the importance of women’s achievements with Arrupe College ‘19 graduate, Zughey Flores, and Arrupe College ‘18 graduate, Stephanie Ramos.
At Arrupe, the faculty and staff continue to implement holistic methods that successfully support students to achieve their goals. Both Zughey and Stephanie shared with us a bit about the ways Arrupe supported them. Zughey shared that “Arrupe has truly changed [her] life forever [...] the community that Arrupe created for all the students and for me [...] they were always offering support.” Moreover, Stephanie told us that “Arrupe has impacted me so much that my Master’s proposal is going to be about Arrupe [...] Arrupe did change my perception of myself as a student, and I say that because from K through 12, I went believing that I was not smart enough, capable enough to achieve [...] a degree.”
Both Zughey and Stephanie are already accomplished leaders. Zughey highlighted that some of her major achievements were to serve as an Orientation Leader for incoming Arrupe students, as well as working with Serving People with a Mission as the Chief Programs Officer. Stephanie has also had her fair share of achievements as she now pursues her Doctoral degree of Community Psychology at University of Illinois in Chicago. Stephanie is committed to help “women to feel empowered regardless if they’re in higher education because there is this stigma [that] if someone doesn’t have higher education they’re not qualified.”
During our conversations, both Zughey and Stephanie discussed the importance of representation to their achievements. During our conversation with Zughey, she shared with us that for her, representation is “seeing other Mexican women taking on leadership roles.” Having her grandmother and aunt as great achievers inspired her, as she now pursues a Master’s in Counseling at Northwestern University’s honors psychology program. Zughey is now someone who other women–and young women in particular–look to for inspiration to continue pushing forward and achieve their goals. Furthermore, Stephanie shared with us that she is “really proud of [herself] for all the achievements that [she] has accomplished within the past year [such as] graduating undergrad [...] as a first-gen latina.” CTB is proud of Zughey and Stephanie and their achievements as they continue advancing academically and professionally.
As we celebrate women–and women’s achievements–this month and all throughout the year, we reflect on what CTB’s Board Member, Mara Smith shared with us:
Regardless of gender, it is important to use our own privileges and seats, and voices, at the table to bring women with us. In practice this means using our words to advocate for women, even and especially when those women aren't in the room to advocate for themselves. It means sharing knowledge, perspectives, experiences, and connections to empower women. And it means being pro-woman in every aspect of our lives, whether that is speaking against misogyny or choosing to see women as allies and not enemies. No action is too big or too small to help ensure women are in the best position to lead and succeed.
A conversation on the importance of belonging
By Carlos Martinez
At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have become increasingly politically contentious (Ferguson, 2023). CTB remains committed to forging a safe space where belonging is one of the many principles for student success. Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago (LUC), the very first CTB model college in the country, serves as an example of a belonging-centric institution.
Additionally, a 2018 study done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) states that graduation rates are lower for Black (40%) students compared to their White counterparts (64%). It is important to acknowledge that student success amongst BIPOC students is often affected due to a lack of a sense of belonging. As noted in Mary Murphy’s (2020) study on belonging, the implementation of customized materials within the school curriculum and structure can have a positive impact on student success by directly instilling a sense of belonging.
As part of this commitment to belonging, CTB seeks to celebrate the impact the leaders in our community have. As it is the case with Arrupe 2020 alumna, Egypt Watson, and Arrupe faculty, Dr. Lavar Pope. They are the founders of the one and only Black Student Union (BSU) at Arrupe College of LUC. Egypt is also a graduate of Lincoln Park High School and she obtained her B.S. in Political Science from LUC in 2022. Dr. Pope serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Political Science at Arrupe College of LUC, in addition to being a mentor for Arrupe’s Black Men for Success student organization.
In a full-length podcast conversation, former BSU President Egypt shared with us that “belonging is [...] feeling accepted, and appreciated in whatever space you are in, specifically in your educational space.” BSU Faculty Advisor Dr. Pope added that belonging means “[feeling] safe, physically safe, emotionally safe, safe that you are not going to get attacked in that community.” The CTB model is meant to contribute to establishing “a sense of belonging [which] is centered on gaining acceptance, being part of something and feeling supported as well as giving support to others,” (West, 2022).
Egypt recognized that “there was a need in our predominantly white institution [Loyola University Chicago] for Black people to feel safe, feel heard, and to be seen,” prompting her to take action and create the BSU space which is able to “provide an extra layer of support and sense of belonging to students at the start of and during their studies,” (West, 2022). Now more than ever, forging affinity spaces for Black students, like the BSU at Arrupe, is of utmost importance. In certain parts of the country, politicians “seek to make it unlawful to teach and study intersectionality, the Black Lives Matter movement, Black feminism, Black queer studies, reparations, and Black freedom struggles,” (Ferguson, 2023).
As CTB Board Member Kwaku Frimpong reflects, “belonging means being intentional with finding your community. Your community is not solely evaluated as a group with shared beliefs and values, but it should also include those that challenge you to be the best version of yourself. You mutually care about each other’s personal development, well-being, and success.” This is exactly what the BSU at Arrupe has and will continue to do for the Arrupe and the LUC Black student population
CTB and our two CTB model institutions, DFC and Arrupe, welcome all of you to join us towards the building of more accepting and inclusive higher education institutions that prioritize belonging as part of the work that is being done within DEI. Check out the full length conversation we had with Egypt and Dr. Pope about the importance of belonging on your preferred podcast platform or on YouTube.
Introducing Jeffrey Wright, CTB Trustee
“The vision is for us to be in a number of schools in different states. Serving kids in these communities, just like we do here in Chicago, I’d love for us to be in 10 to 15 schools.”
Jeffrey Wright is a native son of Chicago and is a graduate of both St. Ignatius High School and Georgetown University. His lived experiences of Jesuit education have shaped his commitment to supporting Come To Believe Network as a Board Member. Mr. Wright is a professional with an extensive finance background as he works in the financial services and private equity industries.
Mr. Wright shared with us that it was the experience and knowledge of CTB’s President/CEO, Fr. Steve Katsouros, and CTB’s proven record of providing not only access but support to students that motivated him to become a trustee. He states “I was fortunate to meet some of the [Arrupe] students and understand the mission and to understand who we serve a little bit better. I personally knew a lot of friends and family members who would have benefited from a school like Arrupe.”
Furthermore, Mr. Wright believes that some of the most pressing issues in higher education are the gaps between quality and cost. By this, he means that both private and public sector schools are not providing access because the cost of attending school is too high and comes with taking on significant risk in the form of debt. This often makes higher education a risk not worth taking for low-income students and their families. He mentions that “a lot of kids in our communities if they go to school, it definitely gives the sense to other folks [...] that the payoff is not there.” This leads many students to become discouraged about pursuing a college degree – which eliminates access to many professional opportunities.
Mr. Wright believes that what makes the CTB model unique is that it dramatically increases the chance that college students will be successful during their first two years of college while not incurring significant school-related debt. He says that the focus a CTB model college has “identifies very actively that the two first years after high school can make or break a person’s professional and academic career.” This is unique because there is a focus on meeting young college students where they are in their academic and personal journeys. Meeting smart people, who often lack the resources to attend college, with their needs to be successful.
Come To Believe is excited to welcome Mr. Wright as a Trustee knowing that his perspective and leadership will shape and guide our work for years to come.
Meet Krystal Blas Rodriguez, DFC Graduate | Interview
Krystal shared a bit of her story with us about her experience at the Dougherty Family College (DFC)
Krystal recently shared that Dougherty Family College (DFC) at St. Thomas University in the Twin Cities was not her first choice for college. However, as a first generation college student Krystal was prioritizing financial accessibility and an option that would keep her close to her family. Luckily, DFC’s location and cost gave her the opportunity to pursue her college dreams.
Krystal now defines DFC as a transition. This was her first time experiencing college and DFC provided an opportunity to grow into a well-rounded person. Like many college freshmen, Krystal learned to organize herself and learned to be financially independent. She felt that the DFC helped her to develop not only her academic and professional skills, but her personal skills as well. Since enrolling at Dougherty, her network and her ability to connect and communicate with so many different people has grown exponentially.
Of all the memorable experiences Krystal had at DFC, Krystal speaks most affectionately about the many friends that are now a part of her life. In particular, she talks about Jessica because not only did they become friends through Dougherty, but they also have traveled the same academic journey together. After graduating DFC, both Krystal and Jessica went on to pursue bachelor degrees at St. Thomas. Krystal is so thankful that these new friends have become such an important part of her life.
Fast forward to today, Krystal is now a DFC graduate and has earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas University in Political Science. The complexity of law and government and an internship she held at Citizens League, a public policy focused think tank, have her considering pursuing a job in this sector. With the support of her parents, Krystal is also considering an advanced degree in law. Currently, she works as a Sales Associates at an Optical retail store as she continues to search and apply for jobs with the help of DFC staff.
Regardless of how her professional career develops, Krystal will always be an advocate for people while helping them to become more politically involved.
Meet Mesum Haider, DFC Student | Interview
Mesum opens up about his time at Dougherty Family College (DFC) and the opportunities he took.
Mesum shared with Come To Believe that it was accessibility that convinced him to attend Dougherty Family College. From the beginning, Mesum felt like he belonged at DFC. The culture of support and the values he found at DFC has remained with him as he transitioned from DFC to the four year program at the University of St. Thomas.
This is why Mesum defines DFC with the word invested. To him it was important to make the best decision for him coming out of high school - and the decision was a difficult one. Thankfully, Mesum soon learned that DFC genuinely cared about the students and provided them with all the support they needed. He stated “when you see an organization, a college that’s invested in you, you kind of fall in love.” Furthermore, DFC was always inclusive of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and ensured that all students were able to fight against the imposter syndrome that can be part of the college experience.
Continuing his reflections, Mesum expressed that one of his most memorable moments at Dougherty was when he got an A+ on a paper. This was memorable not only because he got an A+, but also because he was able to see his hard work pay off. Mesum commented “it’s not about the grade for me at all, it was about the fact that I took a lot of time and effort into something, and it paid off.” He continued, “the difference between your reality and your expectations is the effort, the attitude, [and] the understanding of preparation.” He realized that DFC allowed him to put effort into something and then see the positive results. This taught him a powerful lesson - that he could influence his own outcomes. After this he learned that he is capable of reaching many goals by understanding how to prepare for any given opportunity.
Today, Mesum is in his last semester of undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas, completing his Operations and Supply Chain Management degree. He is getting ready to begin his time working for Target after graduation. At school, he is part of the interfaith council where he gets to advocate for the causes he cares about, and will continue to work to close the inequality gaps that minorities still face. Even with all he is doing at St. Thomas, he still makes time to enjoy his free time playing video games, and watching movies.
Mesum told us that he is happy to be part of the CTB Network because this organization is not trying to change the students but rather is trying to bring out the best in each of them. He would also like to tell his 17 years old self that even though he thinks he might not be able to do something, he actually can, and that his passion for lifelong learning will continue to drive him and everything he does.
Introducing Carmen Romero, CTB Trustee
By Carlos Martinez
“Social capital, that network is more than just a class you can take online somewhere to get an associates degree, it is those relationships, those clubs you can join, those events you can go to [...] that opens another door. Fr. [Katsouoros’] vision of co-location is a critical element of it” -Carmen Romero
Carmen Romero is the President and CEO at Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit organization that builds and preserves affordable housing in the greater District of Columbia area. Her work reflects her passionate desire to eradicate the cycles of inequality that result in restricted access to housing - an issue that cements long-term wealth gaps which predominantly impact minority communities.
Born in New York to immigrant parents, Carmen is a first generation American with degrees from both Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania. Carmen is very involved in her community and volunteers on multiple non-profit boards.
When asked, given her many personal and professional engagements, why committing to CTB as a Trustee was a priority, Carmen said, “What [she] sees in Come to Believe is a creative approach to saying that education is really the key to giving people opportunity, to making this a more equitable world.” She believes that the CTB model is taking an innovative and creative approach to solving big problems.
Carmen is not “new” to CTB in that she has followed Fr. Katsouros’ journey for many years - starting when he created Arrupe College in Chicago. In her experience, high quality education that provides systems designed to guide students to success are critical - and she saw that model being built at Arrupe by Fr. Katsouros. In establishing Come To Believe, Carmen again saw an evolution of this idea as the CTB began the work to bring this model to universities across the country. Supporting the expansion of the CTB model - one she believes will bring significant and sustained change to communities around the country - is why Carmen decided to become a trustee at CTB.
Carmen hopes that individuals and foundations will consider supporting CTB once they see for themselves the impact the model is having on students who enroll in a CTB model school. The results are strong: our students are finding success at remarkably higher rates than their peers at other associate degree programs. One reason for the success is the person-by-person based approach that is integral to a CTB model. This approach provides a platform to directly address systems that can perpetuate inequality - and this helps get students to the “finish line” at graduation. Carmen believes that potential donors will be interested in supporting Fr. Katsouros as he and the team work to create scale. This is what resonates with Carmen the most: she believes that replicating this model in communities around the country is critical. In her mind, this model is more needed than ever, particularly due to Covid-19.
In addition to the one-on-one engagement that is built into the CTB model, Carmen feels that the primacy of creating a CTB model college in a central location on the campus of future host universities is an aspect of the CTB that truly makes a difference. Inviting students to feel they are part of the larger host university - to allow them to see themselves as integral members of the community - is a big reason why these students come to believe in themselves as capable and welcome. This helps each student to forge a sense of community and belonging. Carmen shared that she is “excited [...] to leverage her real estate background to help the board [of trustees] think about’ the conversations surrounding the location of a CTB model college.”
In her role as CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, she knows that systemic change needs to address big problems and it takes a multifaceted approach to make a difference - this includes impacting policy and real estate access. In CTB she sees an organization that shares her vision for addressing big problems with big solutions
Last but not least, Carmen sees CTB expanding geographically across the country to “three, four, five different university co-locations [...] and with that will come more stakeholders, more people who get to experience it in their community and really inspire other groups” with the model’s success. Carmen looks forward to working with the rest of the Board of Trustees, and wishes the CTB family a happy new year.
Introducing Brenda Saucedo, DFC Student
By Asya Meadows
Brenda Saucedo is an alumna of Dougherty Family College (DFC) and a recently graduated from the University of St.Thomas with a degree in Family Studies and a double minor in women studies and social welfare.
In her senior year of high school at Washington Tech, Saucedo discovered DFC through a College Possible coach. When she looked into colleges, she remembered seeing her brother struggling and stressed about finances while attending college in his sophomore year. Brenda thought she would have to endure the same fate. But her coach pushed her to pursue a possible opportunity at DFC. After that conversation, Brenda set her sights on DFC and went through the process of applying. In the early days after her acceptance, she realized that she finally saw herself at college and "doing something."
Brenda was coming from a small, diverse high school where everyone grew up with each other. She looked for these qualities in a college that would be right for her. She found these qualities at Dougherty Family College and that helped her feel comfortable. When she was transferring from DFC to a four-year university, she said, "that was when I got my first culture shock,...seeing the huge difference of everything from what I was growing up with. Her class experience as a student of color made for a difficult adjustment. She sometimes said during class when it was time to share personal stories "that their stories were completely different from my stories." But being in a class with students that didn't look like her did not make her feel that she didn’t belong. The relationships that Saucedo built at DFC supported her in this transition, making it less daunting. She states that "especially the first semester, DFC was always sending me emails, checking in on us, making sure that we felt comfortable in the colleges we belong to. “
After graduation, she was immensely proud of herself for being the first in her family to graduate from college. Her parents have only an Elementary school education. When Saucedo graduated with two degrees from a private university, it was a long-lived dream fulfilled. During that time, it "was super so exciting for them - they were all over Facebook talking and posting about my accomplishments." Coming from "never seeing a future for myself academic-wise, to walking the stage at my college graduation.” Her parents were amazed and joyous. As Brenda said, "to see their joy made me super happy and made everything worth it."
Brenda’s plans for the future are to work and save money for two years and go to grad school. She said that she finally feels confident about easing into the workforce and is currently working as a teacher aid. Knowing she still had a connection with the DFC community has been important too. It makes her feel she can give back while building out the relationships she made at Dougherty. Brenda dreams of giving back to her community by getting her law degree to become a Family Law mediator. Beyond that, she dreams of being a state representative as a way to support and uplift her community.
Introducing Mara Smith, CTB’s Trustee
by Carlos Martinez
“The world is better when we have diverse circles, with diverse individuals who have been given access to resources that allowed them to go through some of the barriers that have kept them out of the rooms where decisions are being made”
- Mara Smith
Mara Smith is an attorney. A graduate from the University of Scranton, she received her JD from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. She is passionate about higher education and has been following Arrupe College --the very first CTB model college-- since its inception. She loves and believes in CTB’s mission which is what drew her to become a Trustee. As a University of Scranton graduate, she was instilled with the Jesuit values within her own personal values, and she applies these everywhere she goes. Mara tells us that “the space for faith, the space for community, the space to truly pursue education in a really autonomous way had an integral role in forming her as a person and as a professional, as a woman for others.”
She sees the barriers of private higher education to succeed and as a privileged person from an upper-middle-class household with two parents, she recognizes that not everyone has access to the same and wants to be part of reducing these barriers. It is important to give access to everyone, regardless of background, as it allows us to see things from a different perspective.
Moreover, Mara believes that “access is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education today…and it is pretty common knowledge that a diverse group helps create diverse, positive results far more than a homogeneous group might.” Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that lack of access comes in different forms, such as socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, race, identity. And often marginalized populations do not have access.
Additionally, she understands that the “CTB Network takes a more holistic approach to looking at the application process, to looking at the acceptance process, and to looking at the student journey. It is really important that the CTB Network provides everything from academic resources, to personal resources, to mental health resources, to opportunities to meet individuals who have the opportunity to give you internships [...] and exposure to things that you might not be exposed to during your day-to-day.”
CTB looks at what value a student can bring into the CTB model. CTB puts diverse people in communities where they are often underrepresented. Mara observes “What CTB does is try to look at the barriers head-on and say how can we help people push through?” To Mara, it is incredibly rewarding to support an organization that commits to facing these challenges and reinventing higher education in a way that is accessible and equitable. She tells donors that what they are giving to is opportunity, to the reduction of barriers, and to an increase in diversity, and thought-leaders in the community from the communities that need to be represented.
We know that Mara is passionate about being a woman for others, finding ways to give back to communities and look at things from a different perspective. But let’s learn a bit more about her: she is an attorney and former Jesuit Corp Volunteer. She cares about higher education and health care. This led her to figure out the intersection of higher education and health care, such as food insecurity and fitness, and how to address these issues. Mara has learned a lot from others, and she does not want to take credit from those who have been able to influence who she is. Also, she loves Mac & Cheese!
Mara concludes “In the next five years, I CTB changing the face of higher education... changing what access looks like to higher education. Whatever number of schools we go out to and we are able to make these partnerships we are changing the conversation about access in higher education and what it means to have access... it’s really about looking at the individual who is applying ... what challenges have they overcome, what resources have they utilized in their own lives.” CTB is challenging the status quo. Mara believes higher education must be a right, not a privilege. Not only an elite few should get access, everyone should.
Introducing Abby Bautista, Arrupe Alumna
By Asya Meadows
"Arrupe has made me realize anything I used to think was impossible, I can make it possible. I gotta keep moving forward and remind myself of that every day."
-Abby Bautista
Abby Bautista is a proud alumna of Arrupe College's first graduating class. We spoke with her about her experience at Arrupe College and how Arrupe impacted her life after completing the program. She also shares with us updates about her life and what she is up to now.
In her junior year of high school, Abby knew the idea of attending college was approaching. Her mindset towards college was uncertain since her family was barely able to fund her older brother's 4-year tuition. She knew her college pursuit would add a financial burden on her parents. She faced an ultimatum: either receive a full-ride or scholarship package that would relieve the financial strain on her parents or not go at all.
When Arrupe was presented to her, she presumed the expensive tuition was the only obstacle informing her decision. But Arrupe offers an affordable two-year rigorous associate’s degree program with a promise of leaving with little to no debt. Sounded like a dream opportunity for her, and she took it. From never wanting to go to Loyola at all to receiving two degrees: an associate’s in 2017 and a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in criminal justice in 2019. This month, she earned a master's degree from Loyola in community counseling.
Attending Arrupe shifted her view on college. She mentioned the advantages of attending Arrupe: affordability, accessible resources, and the hands-on working relationship with staff and faculty. She also said she could lean on a strong community bond for support when things got challenging. She believes that having a sense of community allowed her to keep herself motivated. And since it was Arrupe’s first-class or "lab rat" class, it was easier to form bonds with folks who were having the same experience she was. Another advantage was the culture of caring for the whole student. Arrupe was good at connecting students to opportunities and resources like free laptops, catered breakfast/lunch, career fairs, summer jobs, free public transportation cards, scholarships, tuition aid.
She also mentioned that although Arrupe had many benefits, the one thing she would have liked to see was "a mentorship program with Loyola students." This would lift the importance of fostering a culture where two-year students can feel comfortable and imagine themselves at four-year institutions. Since her time at Arrupe, the 2-year program has grown and evolved over the past six years, offering more classes and professional opportunities in response to student interests and needs. Arrupe offered study abroad to Spain, fine arts classes, a nursing pathway degree track, a food pantry, and more.
After Arrupe, Abby said she gained more confidence and a sense of belonging in a college setting. Abby states that "I don't know what I would be doing if I didn't go to Arrupe, probably still trying to figure out how to get my bachelors." Abby graduated this month with her master’s, and she plans to work part-time at a private practice while she enrolls in a 5-year program to get her Psy.D. license. She currently works as a residential director at Loyola. She says she is proud to be the first female in her household to get a master's and be part of the 3% of Latinas who have graduated with a master’s.
Abby’s parting words: "Arrupe has made me realize anything I used to think was impossible, I can make it possible. I gotta keep moving forward and remind myself of that every day." She quotes Miley Cyrus: "life's a climb, but the view is great."
A Milestone at Come To Believe: Welcome Asya and Carlos
Last week, Jews and Christians celebrated the feasts of Passover and Easter, feasts of new life, of victory over oppression and injustice. I’m thrilled to share that during this special time we welcome two Arrupe College graduates to CTB. We celebrate the life and energy they bring to our movement to address and change the oppression and injustice of educational opportunity gaps so many young people experience.
As you know, the mission of CTB is the replication of the successful two-year Arrupe College model launched at Loyola University Chicago on other campuses at other universities around the country. Nothing validates our efforts more than the successes of our graduates. Arrupe “prepares its graduates to continue on to a bachelor’s program or move into meaningful employment” — a quote from the Arrupe mission statement.
I’d like to introduce Arrupe alumna Asya Meadows ‘17 and her fellow alumnus Carlos Martinez ‘19, our communications managers. Asya completed her degree in communications at Loyola University Chicago in 2019, and Carlos will graduate with his degree in marketing and public relations in May. At CTB, Asya and Carlos will create content for our website and social media presence, they will produce newsletters and other communications, they will research areas in higher education that CTB seeks to address, and they will be available to interact with higher ed leaders interested in learning more about our two-year college model. Although Asya and Carlos will work primarily in Chicago, I look forward to their presence in our New York offices as more and more of us are vaccinated and as the pandemic, please God, becomes more and more controlled.
Asya Meadows was a member of Arrupe’s first class, pioneering much of what has become core characteristics for the CTB model. She served as the college’s student government president and was the student speaker at Arrupe’s first graduation. Attending Loyola on a full scholarship, she was a student diversity multicultural affairs officer on campus, and she currently works as a development and communications associate at a Chicago non-profit that helps elementary and secondary students with writing skills.
Carlos Martinez served as Arrupe’s vice-president, and forged a closer relationship between Arrupe and Loyola University which resulted in the college attaining membership at the larger university’s student government. Carlos participated in Arrupe’s study abroad in northern Spain, visiting sites associated with the life of St. Ignatius Loyola and the first Jesuits. As a Loyola scholarship recipient, Carlos has served as the university’s diversity committee chair. Outside of Loyola, he co-founded “Serving People with a Mission,” a leadership training program for Chicago youth.
Please join me in welcoming Asya and Carlos and celebrating this milestone for CTB. Soon after Asya and her classmates enrolled in Arrupe’s first class, I said our role was to accompany students during their first postsecondary educational experiences. Now, Arrupe graduates are accompanying us at CTB as we attempt to scale our model nationally. Asya and Carlos will not only drive and deliver effective communications and help realize an inclusive culture, but they will also embody the true spirit of our mission and our work.
Happy Passover, Happy Easter, and be on the lookout for Asya and Carlos’s contributions to CTB! - Steve Katsouros, SJ
Our founder, Steve Katsouros, SJ, in the Spring 2021 issue of Conversations On Jesuit Higher Education..
From the article “Students Hopes Feed Those Who Accompany Them As Well”, published by Steve Katsouros, SJ in the Spring 2021 issue of Conversations in Jesuit Higher Education
“I’d rather be called ‘poor.’” That was the reaction of Louisa, a student at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago and a member of the first cohort of students who enrolled at Arrupe in 2015.
In the summer of 2017, Louisa defied the statistics. Nationally, urban junior colleges report a two-year graduation rate of 7%. Louisa and her classmates were completing their associate’s degrees at nine times higher than the national average; 89% of the graduates enrolled in four-year institutions, and 75% of the graduates completed their bachelor’s in five years or less, compared to the national average of two-year institutions at 14% of bachelor’s attainment in six years.
“Yes, Father K, I’d rather be called ‘poor,’” Louisa repeated. She was reacting to the title of an article about Arrupe’s first graduation in Chicago’s newspaper of record, The Tribune. The title of the article: “Loyola program opens door for vulnerable students.”
“I’m not vulnerable,” said Yessica, Louisa’s classmate, who was transferring to University of Wisconsin, Madison, after graduating from Arrupe.
“Bad choice of words,” said Khalid, who was continuing at Georgetown. “
Agreed,” said Dante, who planned to leverage his Arrupe associate’s degree in the workforce by enrolling in Year Up, a job training program, after our graduation.
When I arrived at Arrupe College to launch this new academic unit at Loyola University Chicago in the fall of 2014, my responsibilities included designing an interview protocol for students wanting to join the program. The protocol would be an important part of our first class. Influenced by the work of psychologist Angela Duckworth, I wanted to assess grit and persistence. Consequently, prospective students were asked, “Describe an obstacle you have faced. What did you do about it? Did anyone help you? What have you learned because of the obstacle? What would you do differently?” Overall, the interviews worked, and we enrolled 159 students in our first cohort, including Louisa and Yessica, Khalid and Dante.
Yet in retrospect, the interview protocol presumed that, of course, First-Generation students who are either Pell eligible or undocumented must have faced obstacles. This was similar to lumping our students into the general category of “vulnerable.”
Education scholar Jackie Gerstein terms this the “deficit narrative” — viewing another through the lens of what is needed, of being vulnerable, of experiencing obstacles. Gerstein encourages us to consider the “asset narrative” — what are the talents, the gifts, the experiences our students bring to Arrupe and to Jesuit higher education?
So we changed the interview protocol. We dropped the question about obstacles. Interviewers now say to prospective students: “Arrupe has a wonderful, supportive community. From reading your application essay, and from what your high school counselor tells us and your recommendations indicate, we believe you can contribute to our community, our community will be better because of you. Can you talk about a talent or strength you think you have?” My colleagues and I consider our students to be fellow pioneers in creating and establishing Arrupe. Professors and staff ask students, “What are your interests? What are your goals with this degree? What are you curious about?” Their responses have shaped our curriculum decisions and informed how we deliver courses and support services. I attribute much of the success we have seen at Arrupe to our students and graduates, their influence and feedback.
As I reflect on the third of the Universal Apostolic Preferences — Accompanying the Young in Hope — I think of how students and faculty, administrators and alumni, board members and the larger Loyola Chicago community accompany each other. Of course, we attract students who benefit from Arrupe’s affordability. As one student said, “I came to Arrupe for the affordability, but I stay at Arrupe for the community and the opportunity.” The opportunity has been a two-way street, as my colleagues, I and Loyola University have all learned from Arrupe students how to offer a high-quality liberal arts program with many support services at a lower cost to students who are too often underrepresented on our campuses. We accompany each other, and I am more hopeful for higher education because of Arrupe students.
I have introduced Fr. Arrupe to new students through the “Nothing is more practical” reflection generally attributed to him:
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way
What you are in love with,
What seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
What you do with your evenings,
How you spend your weekends,
What you read, whom you know,
What breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love, And it will decide everything.
Two years later, at commencement, I remind our new graduates of those words, turning the message on them. “You have seized our imaginations,” I tell them. “You have affected everything…you amaze us with joy and gratitude.” When I look at our graduates — or imagine looking at them this year, as I deliver my remarks via Zoom — I don’t see vulnerable people burdened with obstacles. Rather, I think how much I have learned by accompanying them during their first postsecondary educational experience, and how much Jesuit higher education has to learn from their assets and their achievements.
The Bezos Family Match, CTB, and You: New Year News from Steve Katsouros, S.J.
Dear Friends,
Last month, I announced a challenge issued by the Bezos Family—a challenge during a challenging time. The Bezoses challenged Come to Believe (CTB) to raise $100,000–and if that occurred, they would match that amount, dollar for dollar.
I shared that challenge with you on December 3rd, and by December 28th, we reached $200,000!
When I informed the Bezoses how you generously responded to their generosity, they said, “Congratulations, Father! There is obviously a hunger out there for your idea of community colleges available to all...Let’s get them built. Your business plan is converging with the desire for existing universities to offer affordable options.”
Your gifts to CTB allow my colleague Susan Conniff and me to continue to subsidize our support to universities—we are currently working with three—who are considering replicating our model on their campuses. Your gifts to CTB also also allow us to begin to build out our organization so that we can reach our goal—ten two-year colleges for first gen, Pell eligible/undocumented students in five years. As the Bezoses say, let’s get them built!
We are meeting these challenges because of the Bezoses and you. Thank you.
God’s blessings,
Steve Katsouros, S.J.
President and CEO
Come to Believe Network
New York, New York
A good challenge in terribly challenging times
Dear Friends,
These are terribly challenging times. That said, we at the Come to Believe network, or CTB, are not treading water while we wait for the vaccine. Rather, as we consider a post-pandemic perspective, we remain laser-focused on undergraduate success for first generation, Pell eligible, and undocumented students. We are driven by what gets these students across the finish line as they pursue their two-year associate’s degrees—full-time faculty who serve as academic advisors; breakfast and lunch programs; laptops and technology access for each student; social workers; career counseling; financial aid officers; and a culture of community and belonging. The retention and graduation rates of students at CTB-affiliated colleges are transforming the ways universities are reimagining higher education. The success rates are also transforming the lives of our students. They are crossing the finish line in record numbers.
The Bezos Family is focused on student success and transformative education. Like many of you, they have supported CTB with a very generous seed gift as we start up our work to guide other universities who wish to replicate our two-year college model. But the Bezos Family wishes to do more. They have issued a challenge: they will match every gift given to CTB up to $100,000. A good challenge in terribly challenging times. Like you, they know we are living in a time of transformation, a time when our families, our communities, our economy, and our country demand that young women and men successfully complete a postsecondary educational degree in order to contribute to and lead the work of transformation.
Thank you for considering making a gift so that CTB can cross the finish line and meet the Bezos Family challenge match. And, thank you for considering making a gift so that CTB can create more colleges and help more students cross the finish line and complete their degrees successfully. Finally, be assured of my prayers for you for a healthy holiday season. I will remember you during Mass at Christmas.
God’s blessings,
Steve Katsouros, S.J.
President and CEO
Come to Believe Network
New York, New York
You can help us meet the Bezos Family challenge match by sending your gift to Come to Believe Network, P.O. Box 786, New York, NY 10150. Or, you can visit CTB’s website at www.ctbnetwork.org and make a donation via PayPal. If you have any questions or want to learn more about CTB, don’t hesitate to contact me at skatsouros@ctbnetwork.org